Strap dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dispensing package strapping from a mill wound coil includes a reel for rotatably supporting the coil and a guide or aligner for directing the traversed windings of the coil toward the center line of the reel at a point well in advance of the point where the strapping actually leaves the reel. This prevents a sharp pull on the strapping from causing a winding at the edge of the coil to slip from the edge and possibly jam between the coil and a flange of the reel. The disclosed arrangement also enables the use of a simple guide for controlling rather precisely the path of the strapping as it leaves the apparatus even though on the coil the strapping windings may be traversed over a distance of several inches.

United States Patent [191 Goodley STRAP DISPENSING APPARATUS [75]Inventor: George F. Goodley, Media, Pa. [73] Assignee: FMC Corporation,Philadelphia, Pa. [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 305,120

[52] US Cl. 242/105, 242/99 [51] Int. Cl B65h 17/52 [58] Field of Search242/75.4, 85, 86, 86.8, 242/105, 106, 78.6, 78.7, 99

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,506,354 5/1950 Green242/l05 2,906,472 9/l959 Hannay 242/86 X 3,176,931 4/l965 Hannay 242/85X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 838,!57 ll/l938 France 242/105 8l9,9667/l937 France 242/l05 488,23l 7/l938 Great Britain 242/86 [111 3,826,443[451 July 30, 1974 Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert AssistantExaminer-Edward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles H. Johnson5 7 ABSTRACT jam between the coil and a flange of the reel. Thedisclosed arrangement also enables the use of a simple guide forcontrolling rather precisely the path of the strapping as it leaves theapparatus even though on the coil the strapping windings may betraversed over a distance of several inches.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures STRAP DISPENSING APPARATUS This inventionrelates to apparatus for dispensing package strapping material from amill wound coil and more particularly to a dispenser which preventsmalfunction when the strapping is jerked or pulled sharply from animperfectly formed coil. The invention further relates to a strapdispenser of simple construction which rather precisely aligns the strapas it leaves the apparatus even when, on the coil, the strap windingstraverse across the coil over a distance of several inches.

Strapping, such as steel strapping or plastic strapping, used forbinding packages and the like is itself packaged in a variety of forms.One common form of strapping package is known as a mill wound coil wherethe strapping is wound on a core considerably longer than the width ofthe strap and is traversed back and forth across the core duringwinding. With plastic strapping, the mill wound coil can as a practicalmatter, be substantially wider than with steel strapping since theplastic is so much lighter and it is feasible to have a much greaterlength of plastic strapping in a coil and still have a manageableweight. in use, the coil is normally mounted on a rotatable reel havingflanges abutting the sides of the coil and the strapping is pulled fromthe reel as needed. One such reel is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,777,647 toFullerton et al.-

There have been certain difficulties in using wide mill wound coils. One.of the difficulties is brought about by the fact that the side edges ofthe coil are not smooth, this condition being caused by non-uniformityin traversing the strap during winding and/or by the fact that the angleof the traverse naturally brings about axial displacement of the edge ofthe strapping as it proceeds circumferentially about the previouswindings. Since the edges of the coil are not smooth, the flanges of thereel do not fit snugly against the strapping at all points and itsometimes happens that a strong jerk on the strapping will cause one ofthe edge windings to be pulled down between the edge of the coil and theadjacent flange of the reel and interfere with further withdrawal of thestrapping. Another problem with the wide mill wound coil arises when itis used for supplying an automatic strapping machine and this involvesguiding the strapping without twisting it from where it traverses acrossthe width of the coil to what is normally a rather restricted entranceinto the strapping machine.

it is an object of this invention to provide an im- I proved strapdispensing apparatus capable of dispensing strapping from a relativelywide mill wound coil without substantial danger of malfunction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strap dispensingapparatus wherein the strapping is withdrawn from the apparatus along afixed alignment even though the supply is a relatively wide mill woundcoil across which the strapping traverses.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the description of a preferred embodiment thereof proceeds:

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of theapparatus;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with certain portions being shownin section;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing a dispensing malfunction; and

FIG. 5 is another fragmentary view illustrating the malfunction.

The apparatus comprises a support formed of a pair of base members and12 to which are secured respectively uprights l4 and 16 welded orotherwise secured to the upper ends of which is a channel member 18.Suitably secured to channel 18 and extending horizontally therefrom is ashaft or spindle 20 which rotatably supports a reel generally indicatedat 22. Reel 22 comprises a circular member 23 having a threaded sleeve24 extending in alignment with a central opening therein. Member 23 isprovided with a coil supporting cylindrical shoulder 25 and a flangeportion 26. The sleeve 24 of member 23 is rotatably mounted on spindle20, being retained thereon between a suitable stop 27 provided on thespindle and a washer 28 held against the free end of the spindle by abolt 29 threaded into the end of the spindle. The reel also comprises asecond circular member 30 provided with a coil supporting cylindricalshoulder 31 and a flange portion 32 and having a central opening adaptedto slip onto sleeve 24 when the reel is assembled. Reel 22 is adapted tocarry a mill wound coil 36 of strapping 38. The coil is wound on acardboard core 40 which fits around the shoulders 25 and 31 whileflanges 26 and 32 embrace the sides of the coil. Reel members 23 and 30are held assembled with the coil squeezed between the reel flanges by awing nut 41 screwed onto the threaded sleeve 24.

Reel member 23 is provided with a brake drum 46 cooperating with whichis a brake shoe 48. As best seen in FIG. 1, the brake shoe is pivotallymounted on a bent end portion 50 of an arm 52 of a bell crank 54. Thebell crank includes a second arm 56 and stub shaft 58, the latter beingrotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 60 secured to channel member 18.The arm 56 of the bell crank overlies a low segment 62 of a cam 64formed on a hub 65 rotatably mounted on the spindle 20. A spring 66extending between arm 52 of the bell crank and an anchor 68 secured tochannel member 18 normally holds brake shoe 48 in braking engagementwith brake drum 46.

Secured to or formed integrally with cam 64 or the hub 65 is an arm 70which extends radially to a point beyond flange 26 of the reel and thenbends to provide an end portion 72 overlying the periphery of the reel.A roller 74 is rotatably mounted on end portion 72 and a guard 76 in theform of a U-shaped member is mounted on end portion 72 so that the armsof the U lie close to the sides of the roller. The tip end of endportion 72 is flattened and extends through a rectangular slot in theouter arm of guard 76 whereby the guard is made non-rotatable withrespect to arm 70. Roller 74 and guard 76 constitute a guide for strap38 as the strap leaves the dispenser and in any suitable manner theguide is retained on the end portion 76 of arm 70 in substantialalignment with the centerline of the reel as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Secured to or formed integrally with cam hub 65 is a short arm 78extending between which and an anchor 80 secured to channel member 18 isa tension spring 82. Spring 82 normally holds the hub 65 and the partsassociated therewith in the position shown in FIG. 1 with the strapguide 74, 76 located beneath the lower segment of reel 22 and with thelow segment 62 of cam 64 aligned with bell crank arm 56. The strap 38 islaced through the strap guide as shown, with the end thereof 3 eitherextending into an entrance guide 84 of an automatic strapping machine orbeing free for grasping by a human operator. The effective strengths ofsprings 66 and 82 are such that a pull on the strap first causes strapto be removed from the dispenser due to swinging of strap guide carrierarm 70 from the full line position shown in FIG. 1 to a point somewhatbefore thedotted line position, the brake shoe 48 holding the reel fromrotation during this initial movement of arm 70. As arm 70 approachesthe dotted line position, but well before it reaches such position, itcauses cam 64 to be rotated to an extent to bring a high segment thereofinto engagement with arm 56 of the bell crank 54 to thereby rock thebell crank counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 and release brake shoe48 from braking engagement with brake drum 46. Due to the inertia of thereel car rying the coil of strap, further high speed withdrawal causesarm 70 to swing into approximately the dotted line position before thereel' starts to rotate, even though the brake is released well beforethat time. As the reel builds up momentum whereby strap is easilywithdrawn from the coil, spring 82 begins to return the guide carrierarm 70 toward the full line position and.

even after the arm has moved far enough to cause cam 64 to permit brakeshoe 48 to re-engage drum 46, the momentum will cause the reel tocontinue to rotate sufficiently to supply enough strap to permit arm 70to return all the way to the full line position without withdrawingstrap from wherever it is being used.

A sudden pull on the strap, such as is normal when an automaticstrapping machine begins a cycle of operation and is frequent when ahuman operator starts to apply strapping to a package, results in aconsiderable inward radial componentof force at the point where thestrap leaves the coil before inertia of the reel and coil is overcomeand the reel starts to turn. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the strap atthe point where it leaves the coil is shown as being at an edge of thecoil, that is, at one extreme of its traverse across the coil. When asudden jerk is applied to the strap at this'time, the radial inwardcomponent of force can sometimes cause the strap at the point where itleaves thefcoil to be pulled down and jammed between the edge of thecoil and the flange 32 of the reel, this being especially apt to happenwhen the edge of the coil is not smooth so that the flange will fitsnugly against the edge. This condition is best shown diagrammaticallyin FIG. 5 and it will be understood that such a condition will interferewith free rotation of the reel. Furthermore, if the strapping slipsbetween the edge of the coil and the reel flange, the strapping is aptto be folded and split longitudinally and splitting of the strapadversely affects its use with automatic strapping machinery. Thepresent invention provides a way of avoiding this by causing the strapto always be located at least approximately on the center line of thereel and coil at the point where it leaves the coil, as will now bedescribed.

The invention includes a strap aligner, best shown in FIG, 3, whichcomprises a member generally indicated at 83 having a portion 84rotatably mounted in upright 14 and extending parallel to spindle 20 anda portion 86 extending at right angles to portion 84. Secured to orformed integrally with portion 86 is a strap engaging member 88 whichextends substantially from edge to edge across the periphery of the coil36. Member 88 has portions 90 and 92 sloping inwardly toward the centralportion of the periphery of the coil from areas overlying outerperipheral portions of the coil. Secured, as by welding, to the member88 is a rod 94 having rotatably mounted thereon a pair of rollers 96 and98. A torsion spring 100 surrounds portion 84 of member 83 and isconnected at one end to said member and at the other to upright 14.Spring 100 urges member 83 in the direction to engage rollers 96 and 98against the periphery of coil 36.

At a point well ahead of where the strap is engaged with guide 74, 76 itleaves the main body of the coil and passes over member 88 of the strapaligner. Beyond member 88 the strap returns to the coil and forms a partof a substantial portion of the circumference of the coil'before finallyleaving the coil to engage guide 74, 76. As best illustrated in FIG. 3,if the strap at the point where it leaves the coil on its approach tomember 88 is taken from an edge winding of the coil it will engage oneof the sloping ends of said member and be guided thereby toward thecenter line of the coil. Thus, from whatever lateral part of the coilthe strap is initially removed it returns to the coil near the centerline thereof after passing over the member 88 of the aligner so that asthe strap finally leaves the coil on the way to the guide 74, 76 italways leaves substantially from the center line of the coil. Therefore,the aligner assures that the radial inward component of force applied tothe strap at the point where it finally departs from the coil will notcause the strap to become jammed between an edge of the coil and one ofthe flanges of the reel. When a sudden strong pull is applied to thestrap the force of the pull is substantially dissipated within arelatively short extension of the strap about the coil. By locating thestrap aligner well in advance of the strap guide, very little force isapplied to the strap at the point where it leaves the coil on the way tothe aligner so that there is substantially no chance of the strap beingjammed between the edge of the coil and the flange of the reel at thispoint; If it is expected that a hard enough pull is to be encountered sothat a substantial force will be transmitted to the point shown in thedrawing where the strap leaves the coil on the way to the aligner, thenthe strap may be directed over the aligner 360 in advance of theposition shown.

Having thus described a preferred form of the invention, what is claimedis:

1. Strap dispensing apparatus comprising a support, a reel rotatablymounted on a shaft carried by said support, said reel being adapted tocarry a mill wound coil of strapping, a strap guide adapted to beengaged by strapping being withdrawn from a mill wound coil of strappingcarried by said reel, said strap guide being substantially aligned withthe center line of said reel, and a strap aligner adapted to pressagainst the periphery of a coil of strapping carried by the reel at apoint located a substantial distance about the periphery of the coilahead of said strap guide, said strap aligner being constructed andarranged to direct strapping from the sides of the periphery of the coiltoward the center line of the coil, this relationship between saidaligner and said guide causing the strapping to be wrapped a substantialdistance about the center line of the coil before engaging said guide.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said aligner comprises astrap engaging member extending substantially from edge to edge acrossthe periphery of a mill wound coil of strapping carried by said reel,said member having portions sloping inwardly toward the central portionof the periphery of the coil from areas overlying outer peripheralportions of the coil.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said aligner comprises anarm pivotally mounted on said support, and spring means urging saidaligner in a direction to engage the periphery of a mill wound coil ofstrapping carried by said reel.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said aligner comprisesrotatable means adapted to engage and rotate over the periphery of thecoil carried by the reel, said rotatable means serving to substantiallyeliminate friction between the aligner and the coil.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said reel comprisesflanges adapted to embrace the edges of a mill wound coil of strapping.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 comprising brake means forimpeding rotation of said reel, means normally applying said brake,brake release means for releasing said brake, said brake release meanscomprising a swingably mounted arm to which is attached said strapguide, means normally resiliently holding said arm in a position whereinsaid brake release means is ineffective to release said brake means,said arm being swingable through a predetermined are upon withdrawal ofstrapping from said apparatus to a position where said brake releasemeans releases said brake.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said brake means comprisesa brake drum on said reel and a brake shoe mounted on said support.

1. Strap dispensing apparatus comprising a support, a reel rotatablymounted on a shaft carried by said support, said reel being adapted tocarry a mill wound coil of strapping, a strap guide adapted to beengaged by strapping being withdrawn from a mill wound coil of strappingcarried by said reel, said strap guide being substantially aligned withthe center line of said reel, and a strap aligner adapted to pressagainst the periphery of a coil of strapping carried by the reel at apoint located a substantial distance about the periphery of the coilahead of said strap guide, said strap aligner being constructed andarranged to direct strapping from the sides of the periphery of the coiltoward the center line of the coil, this relationship between saidaligner and said guide causing the strapping to be wrapped a substantialdistance about the center line of the coil before engaging said guide.2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said aligner comprises astrap engaging member extending substantially from edge to edge acrossthe periphery of a mill wound coil of strapping carried by said reel,said member having portions sloping inwardly toward the central portionof the periphery of the coil from areas overlying outer peripheralportions of the coil.
 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein saidaligner comprises an arm pivotally mounted on said support, and springmeans urging said aligner in a direction to engage the periphery of amill wound coil of strapping carried by said reel.
 4. The apparatus setforth in claim 3 wherein said aligner comprises rotatable means adaptedto engage and rotate over the periphery of the coil carried by the reel,said rotatable means serving to substantially eliminate friction betweenthe aligner and the coil.
 5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 whereinsaId reel comprises flanges adapted to embrace the edges of a mill woundcoil of strapping.
 6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 comprisingbrake means for impeding rotation of said reel, means normally applyingsaid brake, brake release means for releasing said brake, said brakerelease means comprising a swingably mounted arm to which is attachedsaid strap guide, means normally resiliently holding said arm in aposition wherein said brake release means is ineffective to release saidbrake means, said arm being swingable through a predetermined arc uponwithdrawal of strapping from said apparatus to a position where saidbrake release means releases said brake.
 7. The apparatus set forth inclaim 6 wherein said brake means comprises a brake drum on said reel anda brake shoe mounted on said support.